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Biography and Memoir January 2019
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The Restless Wave : Good Times, Just Causes, Great Fights and Other Appreciations
by John McCain
What it is: The former Republican presidential nominee chronicles his political career from the election of Barack Obama through the divisive 2016 election. McCain, who died in August 2018, offers his opinions of the current developments in Washington as well as his recommendations for ongoing international challenges.
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| Late-Life Love by Susan GubarWhat it's about: the bittersweet realities of aging as faced by self-described "antique lovers" and retired English professors, New York Times columnist Susan Gubar (70) and her husband Don Gray (87).
Topics include: the couple's difficult decision to downsize; their reduced mobility and health issues; Gubar's "resounding retort" to ageism.
Want a taste? "Late-life love may heat at a lower temperature, but it bubbles and rises." |
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| In Extremis: The Life and Death of the War Correspondent Marie Colvin by Lindsey HilsumWhat it is: an evocative account of American reporter and London Sunday Times correspondent Marie Colvin's courageous life and heartbreaking death that is as intense as it is inspiring.
Who it's for: "everyone, including journalism junkies, history buffs, and casual readers" (Publishers Weekly).
Did you know? Colvin lost her left eye in a Sri Lankan battlefield in 1999 and wore an eye patch until her 2012 death in Syria. |
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| Kitchen Yarns: Notes on Life, Love, and Food by Ann HoodWhat it is: a moving and amusing essay collection from bestselling author Ann Hood (The Knitting Circle) that chronicles her love of food in times of both celebration and catharsis.
Recipes include: lemon meringue pie, "doctored" ramen, Italian meatballs, and Indiana fried chicken.
Try this next: For another food memoir by a prolific author, check out Rick Bragg's The Best Cook in the World: Tales from My Momma's Table. |
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| Let Her Fly: A Father's Journey by Ziauddin Yousafzai with Louise CarpenterWhat it's about: In this intimate and sincere memoir, Pakistani education rights activist Ziauddin Yousafzai shares his life story and the lessons he has learned from his daughter, Nobel laureate Malala Yousafzai (who wrote the book's foreword).
Want a taste? "I come from a family in which my gender made me special. But I did not want to be special for this reason."
What sets it apart: Rather than recounting his life story chronologically, Yousafzai does so based on the most important relationships in his life. |
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| The World According to Bob: The Further Adventures of One Man and His Street-Wise Cat by James BowenWhat it is: London musician James Bowen's engaging sequel to his bestselling memoir A Street Cat Named Bob.
What happens: After the publication of his first book, Bowen grapples with overnight celebrity and his ongoing struggles with homelessness and addiction. Luckily, his quirky feline companion is by his side to help him get through tough times.
Series alert: Bowen's third memoir, A Gift from Bob, completes the Bob the Cat trilogy. |
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| The Boy Who Runs: The Odyssey of Julius Achon by John BrantWhat it's about: At 12, Julius Achon was abducted from his Ugandan village by the Lord's Resistance Army (LRA) and forced to become a child soldier. After his quick feet helped him escape the LRA, he honed his competitive running skills and eventually became an Olympic athlete.
Why you might like it: John Brant expertly balances the fast-paced, white-knuckle suspense of Achon's remarkable escape with his uplifting journey toward sports stardom and humanitarianism. |
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If At Birth You Don't Succeed : My Adventures with Disaster and Destiny
by Zach Anner
The author is: The viral internet sensation, Oprah Winfrey Network winner and star of "Rollin' With Zach"
What it's about: the memoir describes Zach's triumphs in the face of cerebral palsy, recalling his misadventures with celebrities ranging from Cindy Crawford to Dr. Phil while sharing his philosophies about humor, optimism and finding one's passions.
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Patient H69 : The Story of My Second Sight
by Vanessa Potter
What it's about: The author, a former British television producer, describes how in seventy-two hours she went completely blind, could not walk, and lost her sense of touch, but also how the recovery from that experience changed her life.
Kirkus Reviews called it: "A stunning account" of the onset of a rare autoimmune disorder that can cause sudden blindness and paralysis.
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Contact your librarian for more great books!
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